House panel plans laws on disclosing confidential fund use

The House good government and public accountability panel plans to pass laws mandating disclosure of confidential fund proceeds and penalizing misuse following an investigation into the use of these funds by the Office of Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Panel chairman Joel Chua has requested that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) verify the identities of 1,992 individuals who received confidential funds from the OVP between December 2022 and September 2023.

The request follows an earlier confirmation by PSA that at least 405 individuals receiving DepEd funds have no birth records, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of these transactions.

Chua emphasized the need for transparency in how confidential funds are used to ensure accountability and prevent misuse, noting that faulty documentation such as incorrect dates and illegible signatures further complicates this process.